The power of story-telling for water and climate

Looking back on COP26, we argue that there is power in telling stories about adaptation to water-related climate change impacts in Australia and the Pacific.

Learning to Swim

As institutions of higher learning increasingly rely on contingent faculty members to carry the load of required courses, more and more new contingent faculty find themselves thrown into the “deep end” of teaching in areas outside of their fields. By focusing on broader learning goals, appealing to the power of story, and emphasizing real-life application by incorporating experiential learning, these faculty members can make almost any course feel like a course they are qualified to teach. Furthermore, they can allow their wonder at learning new material inspire students to embrace unfamiliar topics as well.

Double the Power of Story

School and public librarians and teachers who read aloud to elementary (primary) children can use techniques that empower children with increased academic skills, social skills, and cultural awareness. This paper presents research-based, recommended strategies for reading aloud that both improve listening and reading comprehension and develop literary appreciation. Themes and topics of stories selected can supplement or reinforce curricular learning and explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Children practice social skills and respect for others while listening to and discussing stories. Included are tips for making story hour an enjoyable experience that develops a reading culture.